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Without free speech no search for truth is possible... no discovery of truth is useful.
Charles Bradlaugh
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Free speech is essential for discovering and understanding truth.

This quote highlights the fundamental role that free speech plays in the pursuit of truth. Charles Bradlaugh emphasizes that without the ability to express ideas freely, society cannot adequately search for or discern what is true, rendering any discoveries meaningless.

Themes

Free SpeechTruthDiscoveryExpressionIdeas

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about censorship, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of free discourse.

More from Charles Bradlaugh

The atheist does not say 'there is no God,' but he says 'I know not what you mean by God; I am without idea of God'; the word 'God' is to me a sound conveying no clear or distinct affirmation. ... The Bible God I deny; the Christian God I disbelieve in; but I am not rash enough to say there is no God as long as you tell me you are unprepared to define God to me.
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